The Christmas spirit took a soggy turn for many New York City moviegoers when a burst pipe flooded the popular Kips Bay AMC theater on Second Avenue, causing widespread disruption and cancellations, leaving cinephiles disappointed and scrambling for alternative holiday plans. The incident occurred on Monday during a screening of “A Complete Unknown,” a biopic about Bob Dylan, resulting in nearly three feet of water inundating the multiplex and forcing an evacuation. The flooding wreaked havoc on the theater’s infrastructure, leaving several auditoriums unusable and impacting the cinema’s computer servers. This technological setback hampered communication with ticket holders and created confusion regarding showtimes.
The theater staff found themselves in a challenging situation, forced to juggle limited resources and accommodate a holiday rush of moviegoers. While some screenings were salvaged using borrowed equipment from neighboring theaters, many were cancelled outright. The staff member interviewed described a frantic scene, with disappointed patrons being turned away and a scramble to maintain operations during the busiest day of the year – Christmas. He emphasized the unexpected surge in demand for the Dylan biopic, suggesting it added to the complexity of managing the crisis. Unfortunately, AMC’s corporate office did not respond to requests for comment, leaving many questions unanswered regarding the incident and its handling.
The most significant issue stemmed from the theater’s online ticketing system, which continued to sell tickets for affected screenings despite the ongoing problems. This oversight left many moviegoers unaware of the cancellations until arriving at the theater, sometimes mere minutes before their scheduled showtime. The lack of proactive communication fueled frustration and anger among those who had planned their Christmas entertainment around the affected screenings. Social media platforms became a sounding board for disgruntled customers, with one individual declaring their Christmas “RUINED” after their tickets were abruptly cancelled.
Several individuals shared their stories of disappointment and frustration with The Post. Sigi Nagar, a self-proclaimed “enormous Dylan fan,” expressed her dismay at the last-minute cancellation and the lack of notification. Having travelled from Gramercy with her mother, she lamented the disruption to their holiday tradition of moviegoing and dining. Paula and Danny Naftaly, who had journeyed from Long Island for their annual Christmas movie outing, echoed Nagar’s frustration. They arrived at the theater only to discover their screening was cancelled, leaving them with an unplanned hour to fill before the later IMAX showing – the only screening seemingly unaffected by the flooding. The lack of communication and the disruption to their cherished tradition left them feeling annoyed and let down.
Another family impacted by the theater mishap was Bert Kimmel, a 91-year-old Upper East Side resident, and his daughter, Melissa Saperstein. Having purchased wheelchair-accessible tickets in advance, they were particularly inconvenienced by the unexpected cancellation. While they received free passes for a future showing, the disruption to their Christmas Day plans was undeniable. Saperstein emphasized their tradition of moviegoing and Chinese food on Christmas, a common practice for Jewish families in New York City. The cancellation left them with an unwelcome gap in their day, waiting for their dinner reservation while still craving the cinematic experience they had anticipated.
The flooding incident at the Kips Bay AMC theater highlighted the vulnerability of public spaces to unforeseen events, particularly during peak seasons. The lack of communication between the theater management and ticket holders exacerbated the situation, leaving many feeling abandoned and frustrated. While the theater staff worked to mitigate the damage and maintain some level of service, the incident served as a stark reminder of the importance of proactive communication and contingency planning, especially during busy periods like the Christmas holidays. The stories of disappointed moviegoers underscore the significant role entertainment plays in holiday traditions and the ripple effect that unforeseen disruptions can have.
